Motatapu
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Motatapu Mountain Bike & Trail Runs
Motatapu is an annual set of mountain bike, trail run and walk events held in the Queenstown Lakes area between Wanaka and Arrowtown. The event date for 2027 is Saturday 6 March 2027.
Event types and measured courses include:
- Emerson's Mountain Bike - 47 km, 1150 m, 880 m
- Trail Marathon - 42 km, 1050 m, 880 m
- UDC Finance Miners Trail Run - 15 km, 837 m, 1052 m
- Rab Ultra Run - 52 km, 3,000 m, 1,270 m
- Jennian Homes Junior Trail Run - 4 km, 59 m, 415 m
A mandatory gear list applies. Organisers conduct random gear checks at the start line, and ultra runners have mandatory gear checked at athlete check-in.
The event takes place on privately owned and protected high-country stations. Organisers state that they make a donation from every entry to the Queenstown Trails Trust and accept additional donations at registration. Motatapu works with Mahu Whenua and local stations on planting and predator-control projects; more than one million native plants and protective covenants on the land are referenced.
Organisers use a local events team and list partners and community initiatives related to trail maintenance, conservation and local economic support. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
